Children cry when they are hungry, tired, uncomfortable, sick, in pain, frustrated, sad, or angry. Sometimes, they cry for comfort or affection or because they fear being separated from their caregiver. At times, the cause of your toddler’s tears may not be obvious.
It can be challenging to determine what a child needs when they cry, especially if they aren’t yet talking. When your child cries, start by ensuring they aren’t sick or injured. If they’re crying for another reason, there are many ways you can help. Toddlers cry for the same reasons as babies, but they also use crying to cope with new and complex emotions like frustration, embarrassment, or jealousy.
Tantrums are typical during the second year of life as language skills are still developing. Toddlers often experience frustration because they can't always express what they want or need, and the words to describe their emotions are more complex and develop later. As their language abilities improve, tantrums generally become less frequent.
Would you like to know how to handle toddler meltdowns? Let’s look at some effective methods:
Use a Distraction
If your toddler has a meltdown in public, never yell or physically endanger them. Instead, take your child to a quieter place such as a bench or to the car and try to distract them to take their mind off the trigger. Since children have short attention spans, it is crucial for you, as a parent, to have a few items handy that can create a distraction. This can help you preemptively divert their attention before a meltdown occurs.
Provide Encouragement
Always encourage and praise your child’s good behavior even in public. This promotes more positive and civilized behavior in front of others.
Empathize
Try to empathize with your toddler by understanding why they are crying. Sometimes, they may not be able to express themselves, so you need to be proactive in recognizing the reasons behind their outbursts.
Give Attention
You can engage in various activities with your child, giving them your full attention. This helps strengthen your bond and can also serve as a way to calm them before they become upset.
Prioritize Rest
A lack of sleep is a major cause of irritability and mood swings, leading to tantrums. Ensure your child gets enough sleep at night and takes naps during the day according to their schedule. Always soothe your child by cuddling them and reassuring them that, no matter what, you will take care of them.
Patience is Key
If you are wondering how to calm a crying toddler when they start throwing tantrums to get what they want, it is important to remain calm. Reacting indifferently could have a negative impact on your child, and giving in to their demands could encourage them to repeat the behavior. Instead, try to comfort them and distract them with other things.
Managing toddler tantrums is one of the most challenging aspects of early childhood development for any parent but rather than seeing them as disasters, view them as teaching moments. Ways to calm a fussy toddler should vary based on why your child is upset. Sometimes, your child may need comfort. If they are tired or hungry, it might be time for a nap or a snack. In other situations, it is best to ignore the outburst or distract your child with a different activity.
After a tantrum, children may feel especially vulnerable, knowing they have not been at their best. This is the moment to offer a hug and reassure them that they are loved, no matter what. If your child is old enough, you can discuss the situation and help them find alternative ways to express their frustration.
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